Coin separators



Oct. 30, 1956 J. GOTTFRIED COIN SEPARATORS Filed June 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet J INVENTOR. JOHN GOTTFRIED 'AT RN Y Oct. 30, 1956 J. GOTTFRIED com SEPARATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15 1951 FIGQ.

FIG. 8.

JOHN GOTTFRIED firroR NE) United States Patent O COIN SEPARATORS John Gottfried, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to National Re jectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 1951, Serial No. 231,753

13 Claims. (Cl. 194-1i 2) This invention relates to improvements in coin separators. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in coin-testing gauges that can be used with coin separators to control the acceptance or rejection of coins or tokens inserted in those coin separators.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved coin-testing gauge which can be used with a coin separator to control the acceptance or rejection of coins or tokens inserted in that coin separator.

In the construction and operation of coin separators, it is desirable to provide coin-testing gauges which accept authentic coins or tokens that have the proper values and the proper physical characteristics and proportions but which reject all other coins or tokens. One such cointesting gauge is pivotally mounted adjacent the coin passageway of a coin separator and has coin-receiving surfaces which extend into that coin passageway. When authentic coins or tokens of the proper denominations, characteristics and proportions move through that coin passageway and engage those coin-receiving surfaces, those coins or tokens will cause that coin-testing gauge to rotate and deliver those coins or tokens to a runway or other suitable support directed toward the coin box of the coin separator. Undersize coins or tokens will pass between the coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge and fall toward a rejected coin chute. Oversize coins or tokens will be stopped and held by the coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge and by an oversizecoin stop adjacent that gauge until the coin separator is scavenged to direct those coins or tokens toward the rejected coin chute.

Coin-testing gauges of this type have been found quite useful, and in most instances they are trouble-free in operation. In some instances, however, coins or tokens tend to wedge themselves in position between the coinreceiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge and to resist ordinary scavenging operations. For example where slightly undersize coins, usually those of a foreign nation, are inserted within the coin passageway of a coin separator, those coins can wedge themselves into position between the coin receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge. The wedging action of such coins can sometimes be so pronounced that ordinary scavenging methods will be unable to guarantee the freeing of those coins from the coinreceiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge; and if any such coin successfully resists the scavenging operation, the coin separator will be unable to accept additional coins or tokens. This is objectionable because the vending or other device, with which the coin separator is used, will be inoperative until a skilled person can be summoned to inspect the coin separator and remove the undersize coin. The present invention obviates this objection by providing a coin-testing gauge with relatively movable coin-receiving surfaces. These surfaces will normally be held in fixedly spaced apart relation, but they can be moved apart an additional distance during the scavenging operation to guarantee the freeing of any coin held by those surfaces. No matter how tightly a coin is wedged 2,768,727 Patented Oct. so, was

between the coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge provided by the present invention, that coin will be freed from that gauge as the coin-receiving surfaces move farther apart; that coin then falling toward the rejected coin chute. With such a coin-testing gauge, full and complete scavenging of all spurious coins or tokens is assured. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin-testing gauge for coin separators which has relatively movable coin-receiving surfaces that are normally held in fixedly spaced apart relation, but which can be moved further apart during the scavenging operation to free any coin or token held by that gauge.

Where coins have heavily milled edges, those coins can tend to jam and lock themselves in position between the coin-receiving surfaces of coin-testing gauges. The frictional engagement and the locking action between the milled edges of the coins and the edges of the coin-receiving surfaces can sometimes be so pronounced that ordinary scavenging operations and methods will merely tilt the coins or slide one of the edges of the coins part way along one of the coin-receiving surfaces of the cointesting gauge; the scavenging methods and operations failing, in either case, to free the coins from the cointesting gauge. In such cases the coins will continue to be held by the gauge and will continue to prevent the operation of the coin separator and the vending or other device with which it is used. Any and all tendencies of heavily milled coins to jam and lock themselves in position between the coin-receiving surfaces of the cointesting gauge provided by the present invention will be wholly unable to prevent full and complete scavenging of those coins; those coin-receiving surfaces merely moving apart and away from the coins and dropping them toward the rejected coin chute.

Under certain conditions even authentic coins, which have the proper values, characteristics and proportions and which are not heavily milled, tend to wedge themselves in position between the coin-receiving surfaces of coin-testing gauges. For example, where the coin-testing gauge is located several inches below the opening through which coins or tokens are inserted, those coins or tokens can develop appreciable momentum before they strike the coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge and can wedge themselves in position between those surfaces. If the coins or tokens are of relatively soft metal, as they often are, those coins or tokens can become dented or scarred to the point where they will resist ordinary scavenging operations and methods. With the relatively movable coin-receiving surfaces, of the coin separator provided by the present invention, however, any such coins or tokens will be fully and completely scavenged.

In most coin-testing gauges the coin-receiving surfaces are intended to be perfectly parallel. Where this parallelism is attained, the parallel faces of the coins coact with the parallel coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge to hold the coins firmly in position until those coins are to be released. However, manufacturing tolerances and the inevitable wear of metals can lead to the formation of coin-receiving surfaces which are not perfectly parallel or which are parallel but which have burrs or rough portions. Where the outer ends of the coinreceiving surfaces incline toward each other and where burrs or rough portions exist on the coin-receiving surfaces, ordinary scavenging methods and operations may be unable to force the coin outwardly beyond the ends of the coin-receiving surfaces. This, of course, is objectionable; and it is obviated by the relatively movable coin-receiving surfaces of the coin-testing gauge of the present invention. The movement of those coin-receiving surfaces will be more than enough to compensate for any conceivable burrs or rough portions and any conceivable manufacturing tolerances.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, two preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a coin separator which is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the coin separator shown in Fig. l, and it is taken along the plane denoted by the line 22 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the coinseparator shown in Fig. 1, and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a larger view of the coin-testing gauge for the coin separator provided by the present invention, and it shows that coin-testing gauge in coin-receiving position,

Fig. 5 is a view of the coin-testing gauge shown in Fig. 4, and it shows that coin-testing gauge in coin delivering position,

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of another form of coin separator that is made in accordance with theprinciples and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the coin separator shown in Fig. 6, and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a larger view of the coin-testing gauge of the coin separator shown in Fig. 6, and it shows the cointesting gauge in coin-receiving position, and

Fig. 9 is a view of the coin-testing gauge shown in Fig. 8, and it shows that coin-testing gauge in coin-delivering position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral denotes the frame of a coin separator which is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. A pivot pin 22 is supported by ears on the frame 26, and that pivot pin suports a gate 24. The gate is normally disposed in spaced parallel relation to the frame 20, but it can be rotated away from that frame. The gate 24 has a flared upper portion which guides and directs coins into the passageway defined by the frame 20 and the gate 24. In Fig. 2, a coin or token is denoted by dotted lines and is shown entering the coin passageway between the gate 24 and the frame 20. The coin separator provided by the present invention can receive coins or tokens, but since those phrases are usually coextensive in the art of coin separators the word coins will be used to represent both coins and tokens.

A pivot 28, in the form of a rivet, is fixedly secured to the frame 20. The head of the pivot 28 is held within a countersunk opening in the frame 20, and a washer 3O telescopes over the outer end of the pivot 28 and is pressed or staked into intimate engagement with'the pivot 28. In this way, the pivot is held rigid relative to the frame 20. A support 32, in the form of a fiat plate, is provided with a hub 34 extending from one side thereof and with a sleeve 36 extending from the other side thereof. The hub 34 and the sleeve 36 are drilled or bored to telescope over the pivot 28 with sufficient tolerance to rotate freely relative to that pivot. A coin-receiving surface 38 is formed on the support 32, and that surface is perpendicular to the plane of the support 32. An arcuate slot 40 is formed in the frame 20 to receive the coin-receiving surface 38; the slot 40 being wider than the coin-receiving surface 38 so that surface can move freely through that slot. A weight 42 is secured to the support 32 and it biases the support 32 for rotation in a clockwise direction. The support 32 has a stopping or abutting surface 44 thereon, and the surface 44 is adjacent a cutaway portion of the support 32. The support 32 has an inclined surface 46 thereon, and. that s ur face extends toward the frame 20. The support 32 will pivot around the pivot 28 and the coin-receiving surface 38 will extend through the slot 40 and move through the coin passageway defined by the gate 24 and the frame 20.

The numeral 48 denotes a support which is in the form of a fiat plate. This support has an opening therethrough which can telescope over the sleeve 36 of the support 32; sufficient clearance being provided between that opening and that sleeve to permit relative rotation between the supports 32 and 48. The support 48 has a coin-receiving surface 50 on it, and that surface 'is directed perpendicularly of the plane of the support 48. A slot 52 is formed in the frame 20 of the coin separator to receive the coin-receiving surface 50. The slot 52 is arcuate and will permit the support 48 to rotate about the sleeve 36 of the support 32. The sleeve 36 of support 32 is concentric with the pivot 28, and thus the support 48 will rotate concentrically with the pivot 28. A stopping or abutting surface 54, in the form of an ear, is provided on the support 48. This ear 54 will register with the abutting surface 44 of support 32 and will prevent rotation of the supports 32 and 48 toward each other after those surfaces 44 and 54 abut. However, the car 54 will be free to move away from the surface 44 of support'32, because the cutaway portion of the support 32 will provide adequate clearance for the movement of the ear 54 in a counterclockwise direction. The support 48 has an inclined surface 56 thereon, and that inclined surface is directed toward the frame 20. The inclined surface 56 acts with the inclined surface 46 of support 32 to provide a generally V-shaped gap between them.

The opening provided in the support 48 will telescope over the sleeve 36 of the support 32, and thereafter a spring 58 is wound around the hub 34 of support 32 and is hooked under the edges of the supports 32 and 48. This spring will tend to rotate the support 32 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 28 and will tend to rotate the support 48 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 28; but rotation of those supports in those directions will be stopped after the abutting surfaces 44 and 54 engage each other. The abutting surfaces 44 and 54 are so disposed relative to the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50 of the supports 32 and 48, that Whenever the abutting surfaces 44 and 54 are in abutting relation the coinreceiving surfaces 38 and 50 will be spaced apart a predetermined distance. This distance will be just slightly less than the diameter of a coin which is to be accepted by the coin separator. The supports 32 and 48 thus constitute a coin-testing gauge which will accept coins with a predetermined diameter and will reject coins, as by permitting them to pass between the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50, where those coins are smaller than the coins which are to be accepted. The spring 58 will be quite stout, and will normally hold the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50 in fixedly spaced apart relation.

An actuator 69, in the form of an L-shaped lever, has an opening 62 at one end thereof. This opening is dimensioned so it telescopes freely over the pivot 28. The other end of the actuator 60 has a frusto-triangular face 64 which is held in registry with the V-shaped gap formed by the-inclined faces 46 and 56 of the supports 32 and 48. The frusto-triangular face 64 of the actuator 60 will normally be urged outwardly from the frame 20 by the inclined surfaces 46 and 56;those surfaces being urged into fixedly spaced relation by the spring 58. However, the actuator 68 can be urged toward the frame 29, and thereupon the frusto-triangular face 64 will move between the inclined faces 45 and 56 and force the supports 32 and 48 to rotate away from each other. This rotation of supports 32 and 48 will immediately increase the distance between the coin-receiving surfaces 38- and 5t). Thepivot 28 for the supports 32 and 48 is located between but below the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50, and thus any rotationof the supports 32 and 48 away from each other will provide immediate and appreciable increases in the distance between the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50. A split ring 66 is secured within a groove, not shown, in the outer end of pivot 28; and this split ring maintains the supports 32 and 48 and the actuator 60 in assembled relation with pivot 28.

The spring 58 not only biases the supports 32 and 48 for rotation into abutting relation, but it also presses the supports 32 and 48 into intimate side by side relation. As a result, the supports 38 and 50 tend to act, during normal operation of the coin separator, as a unitary coin-testing gauge; rotating freely about the pivot 28. However, that spring is yieldable so the actuator 60 can move the inclined surfaces 46 and 56 apart and thereby increase the distance between the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50.

A runway 68 is disposed adjacent the lower end of slot 52 in frame 20, and that runway will receive any coin which is rotated downwardly in a counterclockwise direction by the supports 32 and 48. Those supports are normally in the position of Fig. l; in line with any coin introduced into the coin separator. If the diameter of that coin is greater than the distance between the coinreceiving surfaces 38 and 50, the supports 32 and 48 will intercept that coin; and if that coin has the proper weight, it will overcome the effect of the weight 42 and will cause supports 32 and 48 to rotate toward the position shown in Fig. 5. If the coin is oversize, it will strike the oversize stop 67; and the supports 32 and 48 will be kept from the coin-delivering position of Fig. 5. If the coin is not oversize it will rotate with supports 32 and 48 to the position of Fig. and then tilt out of engagement with the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50 of those supports because its center of gravity will be to the left of those supports, as indicated by the dotted coin in Fig. 5. The coin will then roll along the runway 68 and pass by the magnet 70. This magnet will create eddy currents within the coin and retard the speed of that coin. The exact retardation of the speed of the coin will be determined by the conductivity of the metal of which the coin is made; and a suitable number of separating components, not shown, will be provided in the coin separator to take advantage of this selective retardation of the speed of the coin. These separating components are of the usual and customary type and do not form a part of this invention.

A pivot bracket 72 is secured to the frame 20, and it carries a pivot 74 which rotatably supports a scavenging lever 76. The scavenging lever 76 is made L-shaped in configuration and one end of that lever overlies the actuator 60. This end of the scavenging lever 76 is dimensioned so it will overlie the actuator 60 in all rotated positions of that actuator. Thus, whether the supports 32 and 48 are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 or are in the position shown in Fig. 5, or are in any position therebetween, the scavenging lever 76 will overlie that actuator 68. The scavenging lever 76 can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to force the actuator 60 inwardly toward the frame 20 and thus spread the inclined surfaces 46 and 56 and the coinreceiving surfaces 38 and 50 of supports 32 and 48 apart. Such rotation of the scavenging lever 76 will enable any coins held by the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50 to fall toward the rejected coin chute, not shown, irrespective of the instantaneous position of the supports 32 and 48.

A pivot 78 is secured to the frame 20, and that pivot carries a scavenging pressure plate 80. The scavenging pressure plate 88 has a flange 82 thereon which can be engaged by a suitable mechanism, not shown, to rotate the scavenging pressure plate 80 about the pivot 78. A cam 84 is secured to the scavenging pressure plate 80 and that earn has an inclined face at the outer end thereof. This inclined face normally has its lower edge disposed inwardly of the left hand end of the scavenging lever 76 and has its upper edge disposed outwardly of the left hand edge of that lever. Consequently, when the scavenging pressure plate is rotated downwardly, the inclination of the face of the cam 84 will cause that face to force the scavenging lever 76 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and drive the actuator 60 between the inclined surfaces 46 and 56. This provides full and complete scavenging of the coins which may be held by the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50. A roundedend cam 88 is secured to the scavenging pressure plate 80 and it extends through a slot 86 in the frame 20. The rounded end of this cam 88 normally lies in a recess 90 in the gate 24 but whenever the scavenging pressure plate 88 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, that cam 88 will move out of the recess 90 and force the gate 24 to move away from the frame 20. This is desirable in case additional coins have lodged atop a coin held by the coinengaging surfaces 38 and 50 of the supports 32 and 48. As the coin held by the surfaces 38 and 50 falls between those surfaces during the scavenging operation, the coins which may have lodged against the upper portions of that coin can either fall directly through the space between the surfaces 38 and 58 or can fall to one side of those surfaces by reason of the movement of the gate away from the frame 20.

A split ring 92 is held within a groove, not shown, in the outer end of the pivot 78, and that split ring maintains the scavenging pressure plate 88 in assembled relation with the pivot 78. In addition, the split ring 92 holds a spring 94 in assembled relation with the pivot 78. The upper end of the spring 94 bears against the under surface of the flange 82 on the scavenging pressure plate 80, while the other end of the spring 94 rests against the bolt of a bolt and nut combination 96. The effect of the spring 94 is to bias the scavenging pressure plate 80 for rotation upwardly in a clockwise direction out of scavenging position. The engagement between the cam 88 and the upper end of the slot 86 will limit the clockwise movement of that plate.

Under normal conditions of operation, the supports 32 and 48 will move as a unit, and will serve as a coin testing gauge. When coins of the proper diameter and weight are introduced into the coin separator, those coins will fall downwardly and be intercepted by the coin-engaging surfaces 38 and 58; and the weight of such coins will cause the supports 32 and 48 to rotate ina counterclockwise direction and deliver the coins to the runway 68. Such coins will shift the supports 32 and 48 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, which is the coinreceiving position of those supports, to the position shown in Fig. 5, which is the coin-delivering position of those supports. If undersize coins are introduced into the coin separator, those coins will fall directly between the coinreceivin-g surfaces '38 and 50 and will fall to the rejected coin chute. If coins of the proper diameter but insuflicient weight are introduced into the coin separator, they will be held by the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50; and if coins of overly large diameter are introduced into the coin separator, they will be held by the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 5t and the oversize coin stop 67. This is desirable, because such coins are spurious and should not be permitted to pass to the accepted coin chute. To remove such coins, it is only necessary to apply a downward force to the scavenging pressure plate 80 and thereafter that plate will move downwardly and force the inclined face of cam 84 to rotate the scavenging lever 76 until the actuator 68 drives between the inclined faces 46 and 56. This will cause a separating movement of faces 46 and 56 and this will cause an immediate separation of the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50, whereupon the coins held by those surfaces will fall directly to the rejected coin chute. If additional coins were inserted in the coin separator before the scavenging operation was initiated, those coins would have lodged atop the coin held by the surfaces 3 8 and 50, and those coins will either fall directly through spaces between the surfaces 38 and 50 or will fall pas-t those surfaces because the gate 24 will be open during the scavenging operation.

There will be no opportunity for coins to remain in engagement with the coin-engaging surfaces 38 and 50, because those surfaces are spread far enough apart that the coin cannot simultaneously engage both of those surfaces. At most, a coin can engage only one of those surfaces and it will be unable to retain itself in position through such engagement. Once the scavenging operation is concluded, the spring 94 will move the scavenging pressure plate '80 upwardly out of engagement with the scavenging lever 76, whereupon the spring 58 will be able to rotate the supports 32 and 48 until the abutting surfaces 44 and 54 abut. At such time, the desired distance between the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and '50 will be restored completely. The action'of the supports 32 and 48in freeing a coin during the scavenging operation is denoted by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The normal coin-re ceiving position of the supports 32 and 48 is shown in solid lines, while the scavenging position of support 48 is shown in dotted lines. Two positions of the coin :are shownin dotted lines, the upper position being that which the coin will experience when held by the coin-receiving surfaces 38and 50, and the lower of those positions being the position which the coin will occupy as it is falling between the coin-receiving surfaces 38 and 50.

In Figs. 6-9, the numeral 98 denotes the frame of another form of coin sepanator which is made in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention. A pivot 100 is supported by ears on the frame 98, and that pivot supports a gate 102. The gate 102 and thepivot 100 serve the same functions as are served by the gate 24 and the pivot 22 of Figs. 1 and 3.

A pivot 104, in the form of a rivet, is held within a. countersunk opening in the frame 98. A washer 106 is telescoped over the outer end of the pivot 104 and is pressed or staked into intimate engagement with that pivot to maintain that pivot in fixed relation to the frame 98. A support 108 has a hub 110 which telescopes over the pivot 104 with sufficient clearance to .permit ready rotation of the support 108 relative to that pivot. A weight 112 is provided on the support 108, and that Weight biases the support 108 for rotation in a clockwise direction. A coin-receiving surface 114 is provided on support 108, and that surface is directly perpendicularly of the plane of the support 108. A slot 116, of arcuate form, is provided in the frame 98 to permit rotation of the coin-receiving surface 114 about the pivot 104. A split ring 118 is held within a groove, not shown, in the outer end of the pivot 104. This split ring maintains the support 108 in assembled relation with the pivot 104. A pivot bracket 120, formed by bending over an ear of the support 108, is provided on the support 108. A pivot 1 22 is held by the pivot bracket 120. A support 1 24 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 122; that support having a'hub 126 which encircles the pivot 122 but which has sufficient tolerance to permit rotation of the support 124 relative to the pivot 122. The support 124 has a coinreceiving surface 128 thereon, and that surface extends through an arcuate slot 130 in the frame 98. The slots :116 and 130 permit the coin-receiving surfaces 114 and 128 to extend into the coin passageway defined by the frame 98 and the gate 102, A rounded projection .132 is formed on the support 124, and that projection extends oppositely from the coin-receiving surface 128.

A spring 183 is wound around the hub 126 of the support 124 and has one end thereof engaging an edge of the support 124 and has the other end thereof bearing against one face of the support 108. The spring 133, like thespring 58 of Figs. 1-5, is disposed wholly outwardly of the coin passageway. As the result, coins in that passageway cannot be caught and held by either of those springs. The spring 133 biases the support 124 for rotation in a clockwise direct-ion about the pivot 122. R0- tation of the support 124 in a clockwise direction is not unlimited-because: the: inner edge of that support will engage-and be held byzthe left hand end of the support 108. Thusi-the inner edged the support 124 andthe left hand edgeaofthe support 108 are stopping or abutting surfaces. The pivot.122.for the supports 108 and 124 is disposed between but to one side of the coin-receiving surfaces 114 and.=128. As the result, any rotation of the support '124 about thepivot 122 in a counter clockwise direction will provideirnmediate and appreciable separation of the coin-receiving surfaces 114 and 128.

Under normal operating conditions, the spring 133 will coact with the abutting surfaces on the supports 108 and 124 to cause those supports to act as -a unitary cointesting .gauge. That gauge will receive coins of the properdiameter and will rotate in a counterclockwise direction to transfer those coins to a runway 68 which will lead those coins past a magnet 70. Any coins which have too small a diameter, will fall directly between the coineengaging surfaces 114 and 128 and will fall to the rejected coin chute. In the event a coin of the properdiamcter but insuflicient weight is held by the coin-receiving surfaces 114 and 128, or in the event an oversizecoin is held by the coin-receiving surfaces 114 and 128 and the oversize-coin stop 67, the coin separator can be scavenged by rotating the support 124 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 7. Such rotation will move the coin-engaging surface 128 of the support 124 completely out of the coin passageway defined by the frame 98 and the gate 102. Anycoin, held by the supports 108 and 124 would, whenever the support 124 assumes the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, have only one point of support and will thus fall downwardly toward the rejected coin chute.

Rotation of the support 124 to the dotted position shown-in Fig. 7 is accomplished by counterclockwise rotation of the actuator 138. This-actuator is supported by the pivot bracket 134 onthe frame 98 and the pivot 136 held'by that'pivot bracket. A cam plate 84, similar to the cam plate84 of Figs. 1 and 3, will cause counterclockwise rotation of the actuator 138 whenever the scavenging pressure plate is rotated downwardly. Theactuator 138 has the right end thereof dimensioned so it will overlie the roundedprojection 132 on the support 124 at all positions of the support 124. Thus, the actuator 138 can assure full scavenging of the coin separator irrespective of the position of the supports 108 and 124. During the scavenging operation, the gate 102 will be moved away from the frame 98 to permit any coins which lodge on the coin held by the supports 108 and 124 to fall past those supports to the rejected coin chute.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art "that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support concentrically rotat able about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support concentrically rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, a sleeve that encircles said pivot and has a circular surface on the exterior thereof to constitute a pivoting surface for one of said supports whereby said supports can rotate relative to each other without both said supports engaging said pivot, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative rotation of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, a spring acting upon said supports to bias the abutting surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, a counterweight that biases said supports for conjoint rotation to a coin-intercepting position, said supports being rotatable by coins having a weight in excess of a predetermined value to, a coindelivering position, an actuator that is mounted for rotation about said pivot, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to rotate about said sleeve relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports, and a member which is actuable to move said actuator and effect relative rotation of said supports in said opposite direction, said actuable member being coextensive with all positions of said actuator as said actuator rotates about said pivot.

2. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatable about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, a sleeve that encircles said pivot and has a circular surface to constitute a pivoting surface for one of said supports whereby said supports can rotate relative to each other without both said supports engaging said pivot, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative rotation of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, a spring acting upon said supports to bias the abutting surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, and an actuator that is mounted for rotation about said pivot, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to rotate about said sleeve relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports.

3. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passage way for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatable about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, a sleeve that encircles said pivot and has a circular surface on the exterior thereof, said circular surface of said sleeve constituting a pivoting surface for one of said supports, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative rotation of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative -to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-fceiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, a spring acting upon said supports to bias the abutting surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, a counterweight that biases said supports for conjoint rotation to a coinintercepting position, said supports being rotatable by coins having a weight in excess of a predetermined value to a coin-delivering position, and an actuator, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to rotate about said sleeve relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports.

4. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatable about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, a spring acting upon said supports to bias the abutting surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, a counterweight that biases said supports for conjoint relation to a coin-intercepting position, said supports being rotatable by coins having a weight in excess of a predetermined value to a coin-delivering position, an actuator that is mounted for rotation about said pivot, said actuator having a. cam surface thereon to force said supports to move relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports, and a member which is actuable to move said actuator and effect relative movement of said supports in said opposite direction to increase the said distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, said actuable member being coextensive with all positions of said actuator as said actuator rotates about said pivot.

5. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatable about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said abutting surfaces being biased into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, a counterweight that biases said supports for conjoint rotation to a coin-intercepting position, said supports being rotatable by coins having a weight in excess of a predetermined value to a coin-delivering position, an actuator that is mounted for rotation about said pivot, said actuator having a cam surface thereon which is engageable with each of said supports to'force said supports to' move relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coinreceiving surfaces on said supports, said actuator rotating with said supports,

6. In a coin separator which has a'frame, apassageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gaugeadjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatable about said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support rotatable about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttablesurfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces Lat whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said abutting surfaces being biased into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, a counterweight that biases said supports for conjoint rotation to a coin-intercepting position, said supports being rotatable by coins having a weight in excess of a predetermined value to a coin-delivering position, and an actuator, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to move relative to each other in a direction opposlte to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports.

7. In a coin separator which has a frame, a' passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passa'geway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacentsaid passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support mounted to rotate relative to said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support mounted to rotate relative to said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gaugeyabuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coinreceiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said coinreceiving surfaces on said supports acting to test coins moving through said passageway by intercepting coins which have dimensions exceeding said predetermined distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, a spring acting upon said supports to bias the abutting surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, said supports being rotatable about said pivot as a unit whenever'said abutting surfaces are in abutting relation, an actuator, said actuator being movable about-said pivot, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to move relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports, and a member which is actuable to move said actuator and effect relative movement of said supports in said opposite direction to increase the saiddistance between said-coinreceiving surfaces, said actuable member being coextensive with all positions of said actuator as said actuator rotates about said pivot.

8. In a coin separator which hasa frame, a passage,

way for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway'through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support mounted to rotate relative to said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, a second support mounted to rotate relative to said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon which is disposed within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being biased for movement toward each other, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coinreceivingsurfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports acting to test coins moving through said passageway by intercepting coins which have dimensions exceeding said predetermined distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, and an actuator, said actuator being rotatable about said pivot, said actuator having a cam surface thereon to force said supports to move relative to each other in a direction opposite to the first said direction and thereby increase'the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports.

9. In a coin separator which has a frame, a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a support, a coin-receiving surface that is on said support and is disposed within said passageway, a second support, a second coin-receiving surface that is on said second support and is disposed within said passageway, a pivot, said second'support being movable about said pivot relative to the first said support, a second pivot, and abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports in one direction, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said supports and the coin-receiving surfaces thereon constituting said coin-testing gauge, said abuttable surfaces on said supports being biased into abutting relation, the first said pivot being a sleeve on one of said supports and pivotally supporting the other of said supports, said sleeve being mounted for rotation about said second pivot whereby said supports can rotate as a unit about said second pivot and can rotate relative to each other about the first saidpivot.

10. In a coin separator which has a frame with two spaced walls defining a passageway for coins, an-opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a cointesting gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatably mounted on said pivot, said support having a coin-receiving surface within said passageway, a second support mounted on and movable with the first said support about said pivot, said second support having a coin-receiving surface thereon within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, said second support being movable relative to the first said support to move the said coin-receiving surfaces relative to each other, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports toward each other, said abuttable surfaces normally abutting each other, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces of the first said and said second supports that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coinreceiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said supports normally having said coin-receiving surfaces thereon in coin-intercepting position but responding to the weight of an acceptable intercepted coin to rotate about said pivot to a coin-delivering position wherein said coin is freed by said coin-receiving surfaces, said abuttable surfaces normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces spaced apart said predetermined distance during rotation of said supports from coin-intercepting position to coin-freeing position and return, said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports acting to test coins moving through said passageway by intercepting coins which have dimensions exceeding said predetermined distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, a spring acting upon said supports to bias said abuttable surfaces into abutting relation, an actuator, said actuator being rotatable about said pivot, said actuator having at least one surface thereon which is movable to force said supports to move away from each other and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports to free a coin held thereby, and a member which is actuable to move said actuator and effect relative movement of said supports away from each other to increase the said distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, said actuable member being co-extensive with all positions of said actuator.

11. In a coin separator which has a frame with two spaced walls defining a passageway for coins, an opening ad acent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a cointestlng gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatably mounted on said pivot, said support havlng a stiff coin-receiving surface thereon within said passageway, a second support mounted on and movable with the first said support about said pivot, said second support having a stifr coin-receiving surface thereon within said passageway, said supports comprising said cointesting gauge, said second support being movable relative to the first said support to move the said coin-receiving surfaces relative to each other, abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of sid supports towards each other, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coinreceiving surfaces of said supports that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coinreceiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said supports normally having said coin-receiving surfaces thereon in coin-intercepting position but responding to the weight of an acceptable intercepted coin to rotate about said pivot to a coin-delivering position, said abuttable surfaces normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces spaced apart said predetermined distance during rotation of said supports from coin-intercepting position to coin-freeing position and return, said coinreceiving surfaces on said supports acting to test coins moving through said passageway by intercepting coins which have dimensions exceeding said predetermined distance between said coin-receiving surfaces, a spring acting upon said supports to bias said abuttable surfaces of said supports into abutting relation, an actuator, said actuator having camming surfaces thereon to engage said supports concurrently and force said supports to move away from each other, and thereby increase the distance between said coin-receiving surfaces on said supports, and a member which is actuable to move said actuator and effect relative movement of said supports away from each other to increase the said distance between said coinreceiving surfaces and thereby free an intercepted coin.

12. In a coin separator which has a frame with two spaced walls defining a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatably mounted on said pivot, a coin-receiving surface that is on said support and that is within said passageway, a second support that is mounted on and that is movable with the first said support about said pivot, a second coin-receiving surface that is on said second support and that is within said passageway, said pivot being positioned between said coin-receiving surfaces but being disposed to one side of a line between said coin-receiving surfaces, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports toward each other, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coin-receiving sur faces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said supports normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces in coin-intercepting position but responding to the weight of an acceptable intercepted coin to rotate about said pivot to a coin-delivering position, said abuttable surfaces normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces spaced apart said predetermined distance during rotation of said supports from coin-intercepting position to coin-freeing position and return, said abuttable surfaces on said supports being biased into abutting relation, and an actuator that has at least one surface thereon which can cause relative movement of said supports away from each other and thereby change said predetermined distance between said coin-receiving surfaces of said supports to free an intercepted coin.

13. In a coin separator which has a frame with two spaced walls defining a passageway for coins, an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, and a coin-testing gauge adjacent said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a support rotatably mounted on said pivot, a coin-receiving surface that is on said support and that is within said passageway, a second support that is mounted on and that is movable with the first said support about said pivot, 21 second coin-receiving surface that is on said second support and that is within said passageway, said supports comprising said coin-testing gauge, said second support being movable relative to the first said support to move the said coin-receiving surfaces relative to each other, and abuttable surfaces on said supports that can abut each other to limit relative movement of said supports toward each other, said abuttable surfaces being so disposed relative to said coin-receiving surfaces that whenever said abuttable surfaces are in abutting relation the said coinreceiving surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said supports normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces thereon in coin-intercepting position but responding to the Weight of an acceptable intercepted coin to rotate about said pivot to a coin-delivering position wherein said coin is freed by said coin-receiving surfaces, said abuttable surfaces normally holding said coin-receiving surfaces spaced apart said predetermined distance during rotation of said supports from coin-intercepting position to coin-freeing position and return, said abuttable surfaces on said supports being biased into abutting relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 502,246 Burnett July 25, 1893 1,228,674 Hughes June 5, 1917 2,003,771 Graf June 4, 1935 2,095,530 Reiners et al. Oct. 12, 1937 2,116,309 Gorton May 3, 1938 2,220,739 Stoner Nov. 5, 1940 2,374,007 Fry Apr. 17, 1945 2,442,890 Gabrielsen June 8,1948 2,446,510 Hokanson Aug. 3, 1948 

